TEMPORAL-REGULATION OF SERUM-LIPIDS AND STEAROYL-COA DESATURASE AND LIPOPROTEIN-LIPASE MESSENGER-RNA IN BALB CHNN MICE/

Databases for genes expressed in humans or cell cultures are being dev eloped as a part of the Human Genome Project. Because genomes respond to nutritional and other environmental variables, quantitative analyse s of mRNA abundance under defined nutritional and physiological states are required to understand normal metabolism and to clarify differenc es between normal and disease phenotypes. Reported here are comparison s of food intake, growth, serum lipids and expression of mRNA for hepa tic stearoyl CoA desaturase (Scd1) and heart lipoprotein lipase (Lpl) in female BALB/cHnn mice following food deprivation and refeeding at t he end of 2 wk of feeding semipurified diets with 3, 10 or 20% corn oi ls. Body weights and utilization of dietary energy were similar for mi ce fed all three diets. There were no differences in serum lipid conce ntrations associated with the level of dietary fat during subsequent f ood deprivation and refeeding, but significant differences in serum tr iglycerides and total serum cholesterol were observed between food-dep rived and fed mice. Heart lipoprotein lipase and hepatic Scd1 mRNA exp ression levels were affected significantly by concentration of corn oi l and by time after eating. These and other studies examining gene reg ulation by dietary variables and nutrient availability are discussed i n relation to development of diet-regulated gene databases for laborat ory animals fed semipurified diets.